Abingdon News No.59

www.abingdon.org.uk 17 Abingdon News It’s wonderful to see MUN back in person and this term has seen lively debates with excellent resolutions submitted. Debates were passionate but expertly chaired by our Secretary Generals. First Year Awards The Headmaster met with six members of the First Year, together with Mr Jenkins, to present the pupils with their Interview Awards. These are given to students who particularly impress during the interview part of the admissions process. MUN back in session In November we saw the first ‘in-person’ screening of new films by members of the Abingdon Film Unit, and its ‘sister ship’, the Abingdon Film Academy (open to pupils from John Mason, Larkmead and Fitzharrys Schools) since December 2019. An appreciative audience was treated to eight excellent new films that took the AFU’s tally to over 190 films in the 18 years since its formation in 2003. Perhaps inevitably, the films reflect the times in which they were made; at least two directly address the consequences of lockdown, albeit in delightfully different ways. At the end of an uplifting evening, “The Spirit of Grigsby Award” was presented to Charles Kum and Theo Shorrocks for their films A Sweet Parallel and Rock Bottom , while the Michael Grigsby Young Filmmaker of the Year Award was presented to Alex Heffernan for his film Hinksey . All eight films are available to watch on the AFU’s Vimeo site. The Michael Grigsby Young Filmmaker of the Year Award went to Alex Heffernan for his film Hinksey AFU’s Annual Screening Portraits in disguise The art competition for first to third year students received a hugely impressive standard of entries. Well worth a visit to the website to view them. The work will be exhibited in the Dining Hall in January 2022. Third year pupils have been attending bushcraft sessions as part of their Service and Citizenship scheme. They gathered around a campfire and prepared toffee apples and chocolate filled bananas. Bushcraft Freddie Farrell - Year 1